Korea: Catholic Church welcomes outcome of Trump-Kim summit

Myeongdong Cathedral - Wiki image

Source: Fides

Korean bishops have welcomed the Trump-Kim summit of June 12. A 'Mass for Peace and Reconciliation' was celebrated in thanksgiving in Seoul.

Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Gwangju, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said he welcomed "the positive outcome." In a statement on Tuesday, he noted that through the summit North Korea and the US have overcome their long hostile relations and signed an historic step for denuclearisation and a breakthrough for peace on the Korean peninsula.

"Peace is never attained once and for all, but must be built up ceaselessly," Archbishop Kim said, quoting the Vatican II pastoral constitution 'Gaudium et Spes", hoping the international community will promote and support the ongoing peace efforts.

On Tuesday evening, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyeongyang, celebrated a 'Mass for Peace and Reconciliation' in Myeongdong Cathedral in thanksgiving for the successful summit and for the denuclearisation and peace process in the Korean Peninsula.

The Holy See's new Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, Archbishop Alfred Xuereb joined the Mass.

"I deeply thank God because he listened to our prayers for reconciliation of the Korean people," Cardinal Yeom said in his homily. "I sincerely wish that the agreement can be promptly executed to achieve the common good not only of the Korean people but people of the world."

The Mass was the 1168th for peace and reconciliation, which has been celebrated every Tuesday evening in Myeongdong Cathedral since the first Mass on March 7th, 1995, sponsored by the CBCK Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People.

After every 'Mass for Peace and Reconciliation' those present recite the peace prayer of St Francis of Assisi, together with the faithful gathered at the same time in Jangchung Cathedral in Pyongyang. The prayer by the faithful of the two Koreas agreed upon on August 15, 1995, by CBCK's Committee for Reconciliation of the Korean People (North Korea) and the 'Catholic Association of Chosun' (South Korea).

The Korean bishops have called on Catholics to join a novena prayer for North Korea, June 17 - 25. Each day has a specific prayer intention for the North Korean people, separated families, North Korean refugees, evangelization of the North, and the peaceful reunification of the peninsula.